Coin testing and calibrating assembly



Aug. 29, 1967 M. A. HALL COIN TESTING AND CALIBRATING ASSEMBLY BSheetS-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 7, 1966 ww mw Om Wm INVENTOR. MITCHELL A. HALL Aug. 29, 1967 M. A. HALL COIN TESTING AND CALIBRATING ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan 7, 1965 INVENTOR. MITCHELL A. HALL Aug. 29, 1967 M. A. HALL 3,338,366-

COIN TESTING AND CALIBRATING ASSEMBLY Filed Jan; 7, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. MITCHELL A. HALL United States Patent 3,338,366 COIN TESTING AND CALIBRATING ASSEMBLY Mitchell A. Hall, 445 Rossford Ave., Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075 Filed Jan. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 519,305 17 Claims. (Cl. 194-92) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The coin chute is reduced in weight and overall length, while at the same time enhancing accuracy of calipercontrolled latch engagement with the slide, by locating the stop lug of the latch close to the mounting bracket where lateral play and clearance of the slide within its passageway are minimal. The caliper associated with the latch includes novel means for detecting and rejecting soft slugs and laminated slugs which may be indented or separated by a sharp pointed caliper element engaging an edge of a coin or slug.

The present invention relates to a coin chute, such as may be employed to control the operation of machines for dispensing articles or services in exchange for proper coins or tokens deposited therein.

An object of the invention is to incorporate in a coin chute, improvements for the detection and rejection of spurious coins or slugs, with great accuracy and efliciency.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a coin chute, structural improvements whereby the coin testing and calipering mechanism thereof is compacted within a very limited space directly adjacent to the mounting bracket of the coin chute.

Another object is to reduce the weight, manufacturing cost, and shipping expense, as well as the cost of storage and handling incident to servicing and installation of coin chutes upon ancillary equipment.

A further object of the invention is to promote durability and eifective resistance to damage by abuse of the coin chute, thereby to minimize the expense of maintenance and the loss of revenue resulting from inoperativeness of the device.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated upon the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a coin chute embodying the improvements of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-section taken on line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-section taken on line 55 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view detailing the coin calipering means of FIG. 3 passing a proper coin.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, showing the calipering means detecting and rejecting an improper undersize coin or slug.

The coin chute disclosed comprises an elongate platelike slide 10, having the customary coin-receptive aperture 12 and actuating handle 14, whereby a coin deposited in the aperture may be advanced for testing and consequent acceptance or rejection. The slide is shiftable longitudinally, from the full-line retracted position of FIG. 1, to a position of full advancement indicated by broken lines 10, whenever a proper coin or token is deposited and accepted. In the event that an improper coin or token is deposited in aperture 12 and rejected upon testing, the slide will be advanceable only a limited extent,

3,338,366 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 short of the fully advanced position indicated by broken lines 10 in FIGS. 1 and 3. A fully advanced position of the slide is necessary, to eifect actuation of a dispensing or service machine controlled by the coin chute, as is customary.

Coin slide 10 is reciprocably supported by a bracket 16 which carriesla face plate 18 adapted for mounting upon a support panel 20, preferably by means of screws 22. Panel 20 may be one wall of the cabinet of a machine controlled by the coin chute, and will be apertured as at 24 to accommodate the rearwardly extended housing 26 of the coin chute. Rear housing 26 is rigidly mounted upon the back of face plate 18, and is provided with a way 28 in which the slide reciprocates. Opposite side edges of the slide are supported also in ways formed in bracket 16, as usual.

A coin inserted in slide aperture 12, FIG. 1, may be advanced by a depending pusher 30 on slide 10. Initially, the coin advances in the plane of the slide along stationary rails 32 formed on the bottom wall 34 of bracket 16, then as the slide advances further, the coin will descend an incline 36 (FIG. 2), which disposes the coin at a lower elevation beneath the plane of the slide. The lowered disposition of the coin, denoted C, is illustrated by FIGS. 4 and 5. Herein the coin is shown located out of and beneath the plane of slide 10.

Prior to assuming the lowered position, the coin may be subjected to certain tests, including the usual test for magnetic content, and for the presence of a central aperture in the coin, for example. The aperture test usually is performed by a dip lever 38 hinged upon housing 26 at 40, and biased by means of a spring 42 to urge the head end 44 of the lever toward slide 10. End 44 normally rides upon the upper face of the slide, and will traverse the upper face of a proper coin located within coin aperture 12, when the slide advances. If aperture 12 contains a coin or slug which is centrally apertured, the dip lever end 44 will drop into such aperture and preclude full advancement of the slide. Likewise, if coin aperture 12 contains no coin, lever end 44 will dip into the aperture to preclude full advancement of the slide.

Upon descending the incline 36, a coin C will be advanced by pusher 30 to the position of FIG. 4, beneath the level of slide 10, where the coin may be oriented by a guide channel 46 for passage to a coin-calipering mechanism. The coin-calipering mechanism is best illustrated by FIGS. 5, -6 and 7. Referring to FIG. 5, it is noted that coin C hasbeen advanced into a chamber 48 defined by a lower coin-supporting floor 50, and a pair of overlying flanges 52, 52 spaced from the floor a distance greater than the coin thickness. The floor and the flanges may be integral parts of housing 26, and the flanges may form the ways upon which slide 10 is supported for reciprocation.

Upon reaching the FIG. 5 location, coin C passes between two calipering elements 54 and 56 which measure the coin for diameter and thickness. Element 54 may be in the form of a hardened steel screw having a sharply pointed end to bear against the edge of coin C. The screw is adjustable longitudinally of its axis, and radially of the coin, by means of a fine screw-threaded connection 58 provided in the material of housing 26.

The calipering element 56 may be in the form of a button or wheel having formed in its periphery a V- groove 60, to embrace upper and lower edge portions of the coin periphery. Screw 54 is adjustable toward and from the V-groove of element 56, to permit passage of a coin having the proper thickness and diameter. A proper coin moving past the calipering elements 54 and 56, will displace the element 56 bodily a predetermined critical distance, to free the coin slide for continued advancement toward the fully extended position.

In connection with the foregoing statement, reference may be made to FIG. '6' wherein coin C, being a proper coin, has displaced 'the calipering wheel 56 in the direction of arrow 62 a predetermined critical distance away from element 54. Wheel 56 is .rotatably supported upon a shaft 64 which has an end fixedly anchored upon a latch lever 66. Lever 66 has an end pivoted at 68 upon housing 26 (FIG. 3), so that the lever may be rocked about pivot 68 whenever a proper coin C displaces calipering element 56 a predetermined critical distance.

Latch lever 66 has an end 70 remote from pivot 68, and upon end 70 is formed a dog or stop lug 72 adapted to enter a notch or keeper 74 at one edge of slide 10, to stop the slide in its advancement in the direction of arrow 76, that is, toward the fully extended or advanced position. If the coin C is a proper one, dog 72 will be displaced from keeper 74 according to FIG. 6, permitting advancement of the slide. On the other hand, a coin which fails to displace the calipering element 56 a proper distance, as in FIG. 7, will be ineffective to disengage dog 72 from the keeper of slide 10, with the result that the slide is locked against advancement.

Latch lever 66 is biased in the direction of arrow 78, or toward latching position, preferably by means of a tension spring 80, FIG. 3. Opposite ends of the spring may be anchored upon an upstanding lug 82 of lever 66, and upon a stationary post 84 fixed upon housing 26. A stationary rigid guide 86 mounted upon housing 26, stabilizes latch lever 66 in its swinging movement about pivot 68. The dog or lug 72 may be in the nature of a flange turned at right angles to the plane of lever 66.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that dog or lug 72 rides upon an edge of slide at all times, and may or may not engage the keeper 74 of the slide, depending upon the nature of coin C. If the coin is of proper dimensions, dog 72 may be effectively displaced to permit full advancement of the slide; however, should the coin or slug be of a soft material such as lead, cardboard, or the like, the hardened point of calipering element 54 may sink into the material during the calipering operation, and thereby cause insufficient displacement of lever 66 to free the slide from dog 72. The hardened sharp point of calipering element 54 is effective also to detect and render impotent, slugs which are made of laminated materials that can be separated by the point of element 54 as the slug undergoes calipering. Separation of the laminations by the point of element 54 will of course result in reduced displacement of lever 66, which in turn results in failure of dog 72 to disengage the notch or keeper 74 of the coin slide, thereby latching the slide against full advancement.

As will be understood, coins passing the various tests offered by the coin chute, are released to a suitable coin box or receptacle located beneath housing 26.

It should be noted that the pivot 68 for latch lever 66, is so located upon housing 26 that the latching end of the lever extends toward and in close proximity to face plate 18, while the calipering means lies intermediate the ends of the latch lever. The arrangement makes possible a substantial reduction in the length of rear housing 26, which relieves crowded conditions within the cabinet of any machine served by the coin chute. In consequence also, the amount of metal employed to construct the coin chute is minimized, resulting in reduced weight, manufacturing cost, and shipping or handling expenses.

In addition to the advantages stated above, greater accuracy and durability of the calipering mechanism are achieved, since latch dog 72 operates upon slide notch 74 at a location close to face plate 18, where the slide receives rigid lateral support from the ways or guides of both the rear housing 26 and the bracket 16. Side play inherent in the slide structure is minimal at this location.

The slide 10, as in most prior devices, carries a series of notches 90 engageable by -a reversible pawl 92, arranged to preclude withdrawal of the slide after acceptance of a proper coin by the testing apparatus. The pawl permits advancement of the slide end 96 to the fully extended position for effecting a single actuation of the dispensing machine controlled by the coin chute, but prevents such reciprocatory movement of the slide as might actuate the dispensing machine more than once for a single coin deposit. Pawl 92 is under the control of a tension spring 94, which keeps the pawl in overriding engagement with notches 90 during the advancement of slide 10 following final acceptance of a coin by the testing mechanism of the device. In a typical installation, the free end 96 of the slide abuts and moves an actuator which initiates operation of a machine for dispensing goods or services.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in the structural details of the device, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A coin chute comprising in combination: an elongate coin-receptive apertured slide reciprocable between a normally retracted position and a position of full advancement; a face plate for mounting of the coin chute upon a support; a bracket extending forwardly of the face plate and including means to guide the slide for reciprocation; a rear housing extending rearwardly from the face plate and including guide means for the slide aligned with the guide means of the face plate bracket, said housing having a chamber beneath the plane of the slide for reception of a coin advanced by the slide; means within said chamber for calipering a coin so advanced by the slide, said calipering means including a stationary calipering element and a spaced movable calipering element; an elongate latch lever having a pivot end, a swingable end carrying a stop lug, and an intermediate portion; means pivoting the pivot end of the lever upon the housing at a location farther remote from the face plate than is the swinging end thereof, with the swingable end thereof directed toward the face plate, and with the stop lug disposed in close proximity to said face plate; mounting means on the intermediate portion of the latch lever to support the movable calipering element, whereby movements of said movable calipering element resulting from calipering a coin are translated to the latch lever for swinging the stop lug thereof; a keeper on the slide engageable with the stop lug when the slide is advanced to a position short of full advancement, for latching the slide against further advancement, the stop lug being displaceable to disengage the keeper and free the slide for full advancement, upon a predetermined displacement of the movable calipering element by an acceptable coin advanced between the calipering elements; and means yieldingly biasing the latch lever in a direction about its pivot inducive to reducing the space between the calipering elements.

2. The coin chute as specified by claim 1, wherein the length of the elongate latch lever approximates the length of the rear housing as measured from the face plate in the direction of advancement of the slide.

3. The coin chute as specified by claim 2, wherein the stop lug of the latch lever comprises an ear integral with said lever, turned at approximate right angles to the plane of swinging movement of said lever, and the keeper on the slide consists of a notch formed in one edge of the slide to accommodate the stop lug in limiting the slide advancement.

4. The coin chute as specified by claim 3, wherein the latch lever is exposed upon one face of the rear housing, outside the plane of travel of the slide.

5. The coin chute as specified by claim 3, wherein the latch lever moves in a plane outside the confines of the rear housing, and the major axis of Which lever extends in substantial parallelism with the major axis of the slide.

6. The coin chute as specified by claim- 1, wherein the slide in meeting resistance to advancement by engagement of the stop lug with the keeper, imposes upon the latch lever a lengthwise compressive force axially of said lever.

7. The coin chute as specified by claim 5, wherein the slide in meeting resistance to advancement, imposes upon the latch lever a lengthwise compressive force axially of said lever.

8. The coin chute as specified by claim 1, wherein the stationary calipering element consists of a member having a sharply pointed end tending to indent the edge of a soft slug simulating a coin, as the slug is advanced between the calipering elements.

9. The coin chute as specified by claim 8, wherein the sharply pointed end of the stationary calipering element is adjustable as to its spacing from the movable calipering element.

10. The coin chute as specified by claim 1, wherein the stationary calipering element consists of a screw threadedly mounted upon the rear housing for adjustment of position, said screw having a sharply pointed end tending to indent the edge of a soft slug simulating a coin, the point of the screw being shiftable diametrally of the slug toward and from the movable calipering element upon rotational adjustment of the screw.

11. A coin chute comprising in combination: an elongate coin-receptive apertured slide reciprocable between a normally retracted position and a position of full advancement; means supporting the slide for reciprocation, including a rear housing having a chamber for reception of a coin advanced bythe slide; and means within said chamber for calipering a coin so advanced by the slide, said calipering means comprising a pair of calipering elements spaced apart to pass a coin therebetween, one of said elements having a V-groove receptive of a coin edge, and the other of said elements having a sharp pointed end directed toward the V-groove, tending to indent the edge of the coin as the coin passes between the calipering elements.

12. The coin chute as specified by claim 11, wherein one of the calipering elements is movable; and latch means associated with the movable calipering element, for latching the slide against full advancement, or releasing the slide for full advancement, depending upon the extent to which the coin undergoing calipering displaces the movable calipering element.

13. The coin chute as specified by claim 11, wherein the combination includes means for fixing one of the calipering elements at predetermined positions of adjustment toward and from the remaining calipering element.

14. The coin chute as specified by claim 12, wherein the calipering element having the pointed end is in the form of a screw having a screw-threaded mounting upon a stationary portion of the housing, whereby rotation of the screw-like element adjusts the pointed end toward and from the V-groove of said one calipering element.

15. The coin chute as specified by claim 11, wherein one of the calipering elements is movable, and the latch means comprises an elongate latch lever having a pivot end, a swingable end carrying a stop lug, and an intermediate portion between the stop lug and the pivot end of the lever; means pivoting the pivot end of the lever upon the housing, with the swingable end of the lever extending in the direction of slide retraction; mounting means on the intermediate portion of the latch lever to support the movable calipering element, whereby movements of said movable calipering element resulting from calipering a coin are translated to the latch lever for swinging the stop lug thereof; a keeper on the slide engageable with the stop lug when the slide is advanced to a position short of full advancement, for latching the slide against further advancement, the stop lug being displaceable to disengage the keeper and free the slide for full advancement, depending upon the extent to which the coin undergoing advancement displaces the movable calipering element; and means yieldingly biasing the latch lever in a direction about its pivot inducive to reducing the space between the calipering elements.

16. The coin chute as specified by claim 15, wherein the combination includes means independent of the yielding means aforesaid, for fixing one of the calipering elements at predetermined positions of adjustment toward and from the remaining calipering element.

17. The coin chute as specified by claim 16, wherein the calipering element having the pointed end is in the form of a screw having a screw-threaded mounting upon a stationary portion of the housing, whereby rotation of the screw-like element adjusts the pointed end toward and from the V-groove of said one calipering element.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 832,126 10/1906 Hauver 19499 2,194,893 3/1940 Eldredge 19493 X 3,064,788 11/1962 Hall 194-102 X WALTER SOBIN, Primary Emitting 

1. A COIN CHUTE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION AN ELONGATE COIN-RECEPTIVE APERTURED SLIDE RECIPROCABLE BETWEEN A NORMALLY RETRACTED POSITION AND A POSITION OF FULL ADVANCEMENT; A FACE PLATE FOR MOUNTING OF THE COIN CHUTE UPON A SUPPORT; A BRACKET EXTENDING FORWARDLY OF THE FACE PLATE AND INCLUDING MEANS TO GUIDE THE SLIDE FOR RECIPROCATION; A REAR HOUSING EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROM THE FACE PLATE AND INCLUDING GUIDE MEANS FOR THE SLIDE ALIGNED WITH THE GUIDE MEANS OF THE FACE PLATE BRACKET, SAID HOUSING HAVING A CHAMBER BENEATH THE PLANE OF THE SLIDE FOR RECEPTION OF A COIN ADVANCED BY THE SLIDE; MEANS WITHIN SAID CHAMBER FOR CALIPERING A COIN SO ADVANCED BY THE SLIDE, SAID CALIPERING MEANS INCLUDING A STATIONARY CALIPERING ELEMENT AND A SPACED MOVABLE CALIPERING ELEMENT; AN ELONGATED LATCH LEVER HAVING A PIVOT END, A SWINGABLE END CARRYING A STOP LUG, AND AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION; MEANS PIVOTING THE PIVOT END OF THE LEVER UPON THE HOUSING AT A LOCATION FARTHER REMOTE FROM THE FACE PLATE THAN IS THE SWINGING END THEREOF, WITH THE SWINGABLE END THEROF DIRECTED TOWARD THE FACE PLATE, AND WITH THE STOP LUG DISPOSED IN CLOSED PROXIMITY TO SAID FACE PLATE; MOUNTING MEANS ON THE INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF THE LATCH LEVER TO SUPPORT THE MOVABLE CALIPERING ELEMENT, WHEREBY MOVEMENTS OF SAID MOVABLE CALIPERING ELEMENT RESULTING FROM CALIPERING A COIN ARE TRANSLATED TO THE LATCH LEVER FOR SWINGING THE STOP LUG THEREOF; A KEEPER ON THE SLIDE ENGAGEABLE WITH THE STOP LUG WHEN THE SLIDE IS ADVANCED TO A POSITION SHORT OF FULL ADVANCEMENT, FOR LATCHING THE SLIDE AGAINST FURTHER ADVANCEMENT, THE STOP LUG BEING DISPLACEABLE TO DISENGAGE THE KEEPER AND FREE THE SLIDE FOR FULL ADVANCEMENT, UPON A PREDETERMINED DISPLACEMENT OF THE MOVABLE CALIPERING ELEMENT BY AN ACCEPTABLE COIN ADVANCED BETWEEN THE CALIPERING ELEMENTS; AND MEANS YIELDINGLY BIASING THE LATCH LEVER IN A DIRECTION ABOUT ITS PIVOT INDUCIVE TO REDUCING THE SPACE BETWEEN THE CALIPERING ELEMENTS. 